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Apple's Birth Document Could Fetch $4 Million
26 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Apple's formation agreement from 1976 is set for auction.
- The document is expected to sell for between $2 million and $4 million.
- Co-founder Ron Wayne sold his stake for $1,500 but missed billions.
A pivotal document from Apple's inception, the written agreement that officially formed Apple Computer Company in 1976, is slated for auction. Christie's will feature the three-page pact, signed by co-founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne, in early 2026. Experts anticipate it could command a staggering price of up to $4 million, reflecting its historical importance.
This foundational agreement, however, marked a brief chapter for one of its signatories. Ron Wayne, who held a 10 percent stake, departed the company less than two weeks after its establishment. He later sold his share back to Jobs and Wozniak for $1,500, a decision that, in retrospect, cost him an estimated $60 billion.
Wayne's departure was swift, yet his decision to sell his initial agreement for just $500, a detail he later regretted, adds another layer to the story. This upcoming auction follows a trend of significant Apple memorabilia sales, including an unopened first-generation iPhone that sold for $190,000 in 2023.
